Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A massive sinkhole opened on the westbound side of the Long Island Expressway near Exit 49 in Melville on Thursday afternoon, May 14, partially swallowing a vehicle but causing no injuries, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. The hole suddenly appeared shortly after 1 p.m., measuring approximately 8 feet deep and 10 feet wide, forcing the closure of two lanes and causing significant traffic disruption ahead of rush hour.
Police said one vehicle “partially entered the hole,” with photos and video footage from the scene showing the front lower portion of the car submerged inside the sinkhole. The vehicle’s bumper stopped at the edge of the opening, preventing the car from falling completely into the hole. No injuries were reported in the incident, according to police.
The dramatic scene quickly went viral on social media, with traffic reporter Greg Rice posting video footage showing the severity of the situation. “HERE’S the issue on the WB #LongIslandExpressawy - a SINKHOLE nearly swallowed a car before Rt 110- MULTIPLE lanes are blocked. Not in a truck? You’re on the NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY instead!” Rice tweeted, advising motorists to seek alternate routes.
Emergency crews responded quickly to secure the area and redirect traffic around the dangerous road condition. Authorities immediately shut down the right and center westbound lanes of the expressway while repair work began. Greater Long Island media outlet captured close-up footage of the sinkhole, reporting that the westbound lane would be closed until at least Friday afternoon.
The incident forced officials to implement major traffic restrictions during one of the day’s busiest travel periods. Transportation officials confirmed that the lane closures would significantly impact the flow of traffic on one of the region’s busiest highways during evening and weekend travel periods. A spokesperson from the Department of Transportation said Thursday evening, “At this moment, the right and center lanes are closed, while the left and HOV lanes are open. Motorists should consider alternate routes.”
Highway crews immediately began emergency pavement repairs at the scene. “Highway crews are on the scene conducting emergency pavement repairs with the goal of having all lanes reopened as promptly and safely as possible,” the Department of Transportation added in their statement to the public.
Location & Road Context
The sinkhole opened on the westbound Long Island Expressway near Exit 49 in Melville, a heavily trafficked section of one of Long Island’s primary east-west arteries. This location experiences high volume during both morning and evening rush hours, as commuters travel between Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Long Island Expressway has recorded 662 incidents in traffic databases, with recent activity including multiple construction projects and emergency repairs in the same timeframe as this sinkhole incident.
The timing of the sinkhole’s appearance, shortly after 1 p.m. on a Thursday, created immediate challenges for afternoon rush hour traffic patterns. The closure of the right and center lanes left only the left and HOV lanes available for westbound traffic, creating a significant bottleneck in this busy corridor.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The cause of the sinkhole has not yet been officially confirmed by authorities. Transportation officials are conducting emergency pavement repairs while investigating the underlying factors that led to the road surface collapse. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the incident, as it appears to be related to infrastructure failure rather than driver error or criminal activity.
The investigation will likely focus on underground utility work, water main conditions, or soil erosion that may have contributed to the sudden appearance of the large hole in the roadway.
Broader Impact
Transportation officials warned that the lane closures are expected to remain in place for at least 24 hours as highway crews carry out comprehensive emergency pavement repairs. The extended closure timeline means the repair work will affect weekend travel patterns, typically heavy on this section of the LIE. Officials have advised motorists traveling through the Melville area to expect delays and seek alternate routes, specifically mentioning the Northern State Parkway as an alternative for passenger vehicles, until repair work is completed safely and all lanes can be reopened.